If he had had any vision or creativity, he would long since have been trying to come up with a way to do what Willow did in Chosen. Or at least warning people, for crying out loud.

I think warning people at large about vampires would be an extraordinarily bad idea—the opposition, once revealed to the public, could offer immortality and superhuman power to anyone who chose their side. The population explosion of the undead that Sunnydale experienced could become the standard everywhere. The Council is probably right in keeping their war a secret.

Which brings up another point, actually. Though we have nothing textual to point to, it is not unreasonable to suppose that the slayer power would be something of a demonic activity magnet, eventually forcing them intoconfrontations with Forces People Were Not Meant To Know.

I've always felt this must be the case. Even in Sunnydale, what are the odds that the same girl's mother would date a killer robot, bring home a mask that could raise zombies, and have a crazy just-escaped vampire pick her to kidnap in the space of a year? It's quite likely that the Slayer either draws supernatural badness to her like a lightning rod or is herself attracted to it, no interference from the Watchers needed.

But Holli, is there anything textual to support that, other than wishing it were so? It's a nice idea, but it doesn't seem on target to me. I do think that removing the "one girl in all the world" component is huge, ethically. It does give them a choice that previous slayers wouldn't have had, both in terms of moral responsibility and in terms of how actively the council would go after them if they did choose to stay out of it.

Which is in line with her whole "I'm giving you a choice" speech, and removes the possibility of completely unwilling draftees.

And that would make the ethical difference between that, and what the Shadow Men did. We just don't have anything textual to point to to know that was the case.

Personally, I'm certain that wasn't what Joss intended to set up in the text. I just think he didn't fully consider of the ramifications of what he chose to present, and was wrappingthe show up as best he could.

But I do think there were some unintended effects of the events of Chosen that have implications rather the opposite of what Joss wanted to say (unless it was a beautiful subtle jab at SMG, which I also wouldn't put past Joss...).

Personally, I'm certain that wasn't what Joss intended to set up in the text. I just think he didn't fully consider of the ramifications of what he chose to present, and was wrappingthe show up as best he could.

I think that problem only arises if you're looking for it, or if you look at slayers in our world, rather than in the Buffyverse. In Joss's Buffyverse, the power was never the burden for Buffy or slayers past. The burden was being the only one with the power, and being told the fate of the world so depends on you that you have to forsake family, friends, and most things having to do with a normal life.

Within that specific context (which was well established through the series), Buffy and Willow didn't burden those girls. They bestowed on them their birthright. They lifted the burden of being alone, of living just for the kill, in the action of death, the blood cry, the penetrating wound. Now they'll be recruited rather than drafted. Some will refuse. Some will--no doubt--misuse their powers, or be exploited for their powers. But that's a risk that was run with a single slayer as well. Now, when a slayer has finals, or has to get a job to support her little sister, or when her mother has a brain tumor, there's someone else to fill the gap.

They lifted the burden of being alone, of living just for the kill, in the action of death, the blood cry, the penetrating wound.

They lifted that burden on one girl. All the rest may never have had it.

They lifted that burden on one girl. All the rest may never have had it.

Whomever won the slayer crapshoot would have had it, though, and (as far as we were told) there was no way to know which one. And they lifted it for (as far as they know) future slayers.

In terms of messing with the little-many for the benefit of the large-many, a metric shitload of women that were going to have relatively simple lives just had their existences turned arse over teakettle, to save the sanity of three or four women (the ones who'd have been called during their prime).

As for the future -- dunno? Did they expend all now and forever slayer power and spread it? What happens when all these girls/women are dead? Are all potentials born slayers now?

The text doesn't tell us a thing.

The text doesn't tell us a thing.

No, it doesn't. And I think they can make something really grey and interesting out of it, if someday, Joss decides to continue the story of slayers. I wouldn't mind seeing it on Angel, even.

I just don't think in the Jossverse, empowering a girl (in and of itself) -- giving her strength, is seen as a "problem". There can be/will always be plenty of room for disaster (Faith), but the story is about empowerment.

a metric shitload of women that were going to have relatively simple lives just had their existences turned arse over teakettle

How ass over teakettle though? I mean, the text doesn't tell us that, either. The text told us Buffy and Willow let the potentials (the ones in Sunnydale) choose whether or not they would join in the battle. It isn't explicitly stated, but is strongly implied (by the fact that worldwide, women got slayer strength from the spell) that the Sunnydale SiTs would have gotten the the strength, even if they refused the responsibility of using it to fight.

Even with the life I pretend to live, suddenly becoming superpowered and getting prophetic dreams is going to mess with stuff.

Do I still keep doing krav? Is it fair? What do I do about the dreams, should I decide not to join the battle? Am I going to become a target? How many people do I injure by mistake?

It'd be a big deal ... otherwise what is a slayer?

Just, from sheer bewilderment... if the Slayer power is from the black evil demon slime, what about those times when the Slayer saved someone apparently on instinct, i.e Cave!Slayer, Faith killing the spider in Choices etc. Saving people seems bound up in the Slayer ethos, and I don't get how that got in there.